Editing Direct Stream Digital (section)

==DSD mixing and mastering==
DSD music mixing and mastering for SACD or Internet download presents challenges due to the difficulty of performing digital signal processing (DSP) operations (such as equalization, balance, panning) in a one-bit environment.

Older analog recordings were processed using analog equipment and then digitized to DSD. It is also possible to avoid processing by using only the available adjustments in the studio equipment while recording to DSD.

One DSP technique available is to convert the DSD to PCM and use standard PCM equipment such as [[Pro Tools]], useful for rock and contemporary music which rely on multitrack techniques, then digitally convert back to DSD format. Some DSD proponents dislike this technique claiming that the PCM conversion to a lower sample rate reduces the sound quality of DSD.

A format and set of tools for PCM processing of DSD has been developed under the name [[Digital eXtreme Definition]] (DXD). This is a PCM format with 24-bit resolution sampled at 352.8&nbsp;kHz. Another DSP technique uses a format commonly referred to as ''DSD-wide'', which retains the high sample rate of standard DSD, but uses 8-bit samples with [[noise shaping]]. DSD-wide is sometimes disparagingly referred to as ''PCM-narrow''. It has the benefit of making DSP operations practical while retaining the 2.8224&nbsp;MHz sampling frequency. The processed DSD-wide signal is converted to the final 1-bit DSD product at the same sample rate. Processing DSD-wide at the higher multiple-DSD sample rates is also possible. Pyramix and some SADiE [[digital audio workstation]] (DAW) systems can operate in the DSD-wide domain.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

===DSD processing tools===
DXD was initially developed for the [[Merging Technologies]] Pyramix workstation and introduced together with their Sphynx 2, AD/DA converter in 2004. This combination meant that it was possible to record and edit directly in DXD,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.promates.com/music-store/hd-audio|title=Digital HD Audio Formats|access-date=October 27, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621045338/https://www.promates.com/music-store/hd-audio|archive-date=June 21, 2015|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> and that the sample only converts to DSD once before publishing. This offers an advantage to the user as the noise created by converting DSD rises dramatically above 20&nbsp;kHz, and more noise is added each time a signal is converted back to DSD during editing.

The Pyramix Virtual Studio Digital Audio Workstation allows for recording, editing and mastering all DSD formats up to DSD256. A 12.288&nbsp;MHz DSD256 variant based on a 48&nbsp;kHz reference{{efn|{{times|48&nbsp;kHz|256}}&nbsp;{{=}} 12.288&nbsp;MHz as opposed to the more common {{times|44.1&nbsp;kHz|256}}&nbsp;{{=}} 11.2&nbsp;MHz}} is supported. The exaSound e20 DAC was the first commercially available device capable of DSD256 playback at sampling rates of 11.2896 or 12.288&nbsp;MHz.<ref>{{cite web|title=e20 Mk II - the first high-end DAC capable of DSD256|url=http://exasound.com/Blog/tabid/74/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/79/categoryId/8/e20-Mk-II--the-first-high-end-DAC-capable-of-DSD256.aspx}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=e20 Mk III - the first high-end DAC capable of 12.288 MHz (DSD256)|url=http://exasound.com/Blog/tabid/74/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/97/categoryId/8/e20-Mk-III--the-first-high-end-DAC-capable-of-12288-MHz-DSD256.aspx}}</ref> The Merging Technologies Horus AD/DA Converter offers sample rates up to 11.2&nbsp;MHz, or four times the SACD rate.

DSD128, 5.6448&nbsp;MHz, twice the SACD rate, has been supported by multiple hardware devices such as the exaSound e20 Mk II DA,C<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.exasound.com/e20/Overview.aspx|title= exaSound e20 Mk II}}</ref> Korg MR-1000 1-bit digital recorder, Amanero Combo384 DSD output adapter and the discontinued exaU2I USB to [[I²S|I²S interface]]. 

Software supporting DSD includes [[Sonic Studio]]'s Amarra Luxe, Audirvana, [[foobar2000]] with SACD plugin, [[JRiver Media Center]], Roon,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://community.roonlabs.com/t/dsd512-upsampled-free-demo-from-www-wechdomi-org-resolved-with-build-218/24188/7|title=DSD512 ...upsampled free demo from www.wechdomi.org [Resolved with build 218]|date=April 17, 2017|quote=Thanks @wizardofoz, managed to download the 'Wechseldominante - Babel DSD512\Wechseldominante - Babel (DSD512).dff' and playback on my Holo Spring DAC. Direct DSD512 playback is far less computer intensive if it doesn't do any form of conversion. I managed to playback DSD512 without any issue.}}</ref> HQPlayer and Neutron Music Player are all able to handle DSD files of up to DSD512 rate fully natively.